The Leviathan Cometh (For Dinner)
The Maw had come up for its usual rounds of picking up patrons to dine on its… lovely food. This night, however, there was a rather odd guest in the crowd. It was a humanoid fish man wearing a pinstripe suit, with badly cut holes as to allow the fins on his arms and legs to “breathe.”
The most defining feature of his outfit was the golden crown on the top of his forehead, inset with a single large emerald. The King was let in without incident, and was led to a table. The waiter gave him a menu, and walked off without even asking him what drink he wanted!
Well, whatever. He needed isolation for his plan anyway…
Edwin didn’t normally pay attention to the patrons when he weaved his way through them back towards the furnace, after The Lady had called him up to her. Most of the patrons were always busy eating - the worst ones, thankfully, were off in other places, but still. It wasn’t good to linger in the dining area.
Being Above always gave him chills, and not because he was so used to being in the furnace. ‘Above’ meant that he was going to either hurt or be hurt. Thankfully - or unthankfully - these days, it largely meant that somebody was getting a new burn scar, and he’d always hated doing that. It had taken him what felt like ages to grow numb to it.
This time, though, Edwin paused, breaking his usual mask of trying to look much more dangerous than he actually was. There was somebody different in the crowd. They weren’t human. Granted, there were lots of non-humans that came to the Maw, but this one was… different. He was fishlike, from what Edwin could see, trying not to stare as he continued moving, slowing only slightly.
He hoped nobody would notice him diverting his course to get a better look at the man.
Whatever his species, Edwin had never seen it, and wondered if the man would get to go home. What was his home like, Edwin wondered idly, still watching him. Did he live beneath the sea? Maybe a tropical area, shallow enough that the Maw would never be able to drag itself close, or surrounded by lethal reefs that ate up anything that came near.
“I hope she doesn’t take an interest in you…” Edwin muttered to himself as he walked. He had to get back to the furnace. It would be running low soon enough.
